Quake Capital Announces New Los Angeles Managing Partner, Eyes Global Expansion
Quake Promotes Managing Partner Priscilla Pesci to Global Managing Partner for Europe; Former Microsoft for Startups Director Anthony Kelani Joins Quake Los Angeles as New Managing Partner
LOS ANGELES, April 3, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Quake Capital, an emerging early stage investment firm focused on making seed level investments across a wide range of industries, today announced that Priscilla Pesci, Managing Partner of Quake Los Angeles has been promoted to a new role as Global Managing Partner for Europe. Pesci will lead Germany based partnerships and programs in addition to being responsible for developing Quake's European investment portfolio and strategy. Pesci's new role is consistent with Quake's long-term plan to expand internationally and create opportunities for global syndication and deal flow that align with U.S. programs.
Quake is pursuing a new multi-million dollar Euros fund with select overseas partners, specific to the Westphalia territory in Germany, working with global corporate sponsors recruit European talent.
"Pesci has been a strong leader of the Los Angeles office where she has consistently helped identify and bring new start-ups into the fund, with many of them already delivering solid returns," said Jim Brisimitzis, Managing Partner of Quake Seattle. "With extensive business and cross-cultural experience in more than 150 countries, Pesci is uniquely qualified to help Quake create a new ecosystem of partners, investors and entrepreneurs across Europe."
Prior to joining Quake, Pesci has held senior-level, executive posts at media and entertainment leaders MGM Studios, Lionsgate Entertainment, CBS Broadcast International, and FOX Studios. As Chief Marketing Officer of MGM Worldwide Television Group, she contributed, developed, and launched billion-dollar franchises, such as Legally Blonde, James Bond, Pink Panther, and Stargate. As CEO of her own start-up company and Senior Franchise and Digital Media Specialist at MGM, Priscilla pioneered and packaged strategic, online ad-revenue partnerships amongst major recording labels, film studios and blue-chip brands.
Quake is also announcing a new Managing Partner assuming responsibilities from Pesci. Anthony Kelani, a technologist and businessman with over 13 year of experience in the tech industry as a software engineer, data scientist, startup CEO and CTO, will replace Pesci as the new Managing Director of the Los Angeles office. Prior to joining Quake, Kelani served as Head of Microsoft for Startups Los Angeles, where he worked closely with startup founders and the leading accelerators and venture capitalists in Los Angeles.
He launched his career with Northrop Grumman, where he was honored for his work in designing and developing life-saving situational awareness software for the United States military. He then became Head of Engineering at one of the first venture studios in Los Angeles, Curious Minds, which created and exited several companies, with the most notable being Telesign. His background includes expertise in executing projects in software development and architecture, distributed computing, SaaS, real-time video streaming, data science, and web and mobile applications.
As Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office, Kelani will focus his efforts on working closely with Quake's accelerator founders in the areas of engineering and operations, expanding Quake's investor and partner network, and assisting with fundraising and strategy.
Quake Los Angeles launched its Spring Accelerator on March 19th with 15 new start-ups including 70 Million Jobs, Ampathy, The Labz, Alteria Automation, Perch Mobility, CityGrows, Hava Health, Kitterly, Ledgersync, LEFT, Mrktstar, My Lil' Healthbot, Nedl, and Angel Shave Club, which was featured recently on ABC's Shark Tank.
About Quake Capital Partners
Quake Capital is a unique accelerator focused on making seed level investments in new and early stage ventures across a wide range of industries. Quake works closely with key advisers, and taps into exclusive relationships developed over the last 30 years to boast unparalleled access to the top players in technology, finance, development, manufacturing and distribution. To learn more about Quake Capital and its portfolio of companies, please visit https://www.quakecapital.com/.
SOURCE Quake Capital
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